A Smile like knife

Dyleon sucked in a breath and looked at Lysan wide eyed.

Roman's smile didn't falter, but it deepened. His grey eyes shimmered with something Lysan couldn't name.

“Pretentious,” Roman repeated slowly, the smile still plastered on his face. “I've been called many things, but that's a first.”

Then he turned back to Dyleon. “So Dyleon, how long have you been at this academy?”

Dyleon blinked repeatedly, surprised by the sudden attention. “Uhm… three years. Same as Lysan.”

Roman nodded, “Three years. So, did you pass your combat exams?” He said, glancing at Lysan.

“Nah,” Dyleon smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I failed—I'm being transferred to botany.”

Roman laughed softly, “There's nothing wrong with botany. Plants don't fight.”

“Right?” Dyleon also laughed.

Lysan watched the exchange between Roman and Dyleon, his jaw clenched together tightly. Roman was charming Dyleon effortlessly.

But every few seconds, his gaze kept darting back to Lysan, which made Lysan realize that Roman was not here for Dyleon, He was here for him, he just used Dyleon as an excuse to stay longer.

Dyleon, oblivious to Roman's real intentions, was fully engaged now, “—and Lys dropped his sword on purpose three times. Honestly, it was impressive.” Then he chuckled.

Roman raised a brow, “Is that for real? Three times?”

“Yep, I counted it.” Dyleon grinned.

Roman's gaze shifted to Lysan now, “You must have been very nervous, I could see it. You tried to make the act convincing.”

Lysan didn't respond, he just kept staring at Roman.

Roman spoke up again, “Why would you want to fail combat exams so desperately? As far as I could remember, you always wanted to pass.” He paused, “why the sudden change of heart?”

Lysan looked at Dyleon, then back at Roman, “It certainly has nothing to do with you.”

Roman's lips formed a thin line. “Right, I'll take that as my cue.”

Then he leaned forward, towards Lysan, reaching behind him for a small napkin on the punch table. But he brought his face close to Lysan's ear, close enough that no one could hear, and close enough that Lysan could feel his warm breath against his neck.

“Nice game, Lysan Dusk.” Roman whispered.

Lysan's heart skipped a beat. What did he mean by that?

Roman pulled back, the napkin in his hand. He dabbed his fingers casually, as if nothing had happened.

“It was nice meeting you both,” he smiled at Dyleon.“Most especially you Dyleon, you're fun to be around, we'll meet again sometime.” he glanced at Lysan as he said it.

Then he turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

Dyleon watched him go, starstruck. “Wow, Lys, he's actually… nice. Many people claimed he was cold, distant and horrible. But you know he was really—”

“Dyleon.” Lysan's voice was flat now.

“What's wrong?”

“I want to leave. Are you coming with me or do you still wanna stay?”

“Why do you want to leave? The gala just started—”

“Okay fine, you can stay. I'm leaving now.” Then he started moving forward.

Dyleon's smile vanished from his face as he looked at Lysan's retreating back.

“Hey, Lys! wait up.” He called out to Lysan from behind.

Lysan turned around and waited for Dyleon, his expression still flat.

Dyleon reached him, grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the back exit.

They slipped out of the ballroom into a narrow corridor. The music faded behind them, the cold night air hitting their faces.

Dyleon stopped, and turned Lysan to face him.

“What happened in there? What's up with you?” Dyleon demanded, the calmness stripped away from his face. “You refused to shake Roman's hand, in public, in front of everyone. You called him pretentious to his face, why? And then you—”Dyleon raised one hand to massage his temples. “What did he whisper in your ear?”

“It's nothing.”

“Don't lie to me Lys, I'm not a child.” Dyleon moved to grab his arm.

“I said it was nothing.” Lysan jerked his hand away from Dyleon's grip.

Dyleon stared at him, his expression shifted, a huge crease on his forehead.

“You know him,” Dyleon said slowly. “You told me earlier that you didn't know him, but you do. “You know him, Lys, and he knows you.” He paused, searching Lysan's face. “There is something between you two that you are not telling me.”

Lysan was quiet, he didn't say anything, he just kept staring at the floor.

Dyleon ran a hand through his hair, pulling it slightly. “When did you become like this Lys? When did you start hiding things from me? You feel like a completely different person, acting off since morning.” He moved closer to Lysan, “Talk to me Lysan, Please.” Dylan said, his voice cracking a little.

Lysan blinked hard, pressing his lips together, keeping his emotions in check. There was no way he could explain to Dyleon that their beloved Demon prince was a monster. That he found himself in the body of another person. That everything was spiraling out of control.

Silence was the best answer, he couldn't explain.

Dyleon's throat tightened, he was waiting for a response from Lysan but got none. “It's fine, don't tell me anything. But stop lying to my face. I've known you for a good amount of time to know when you're lying. Three years…three years, Lys. I know when you're hiding something from me.”

Lysan looked at Dyleon straight in his eyes and saw pain. He had just broken his heart.

Dyleon dropped his gaze and turned around, “I'll let you be, Lysan. I won't force you.” Then he walked down the corridor, his footsteps echoing.

Lysan watched his back disappear into the darkness, and his chest ached.

Dyleon deserved the truth. But the truth would destroy him.

He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. 

Roman’s words echoed in his head, “Nice game, Lysan Dusk.”

He still couldn't understand what Roman meant by those words.

Roman didn't know he was reborn, he could't let him know.

But he knew something about Lysan that interested him.

And Lysan had just made himself unforgettable to the one person he needed to be away from.

His retirement plan was already crumbling before it even begun.